X Factor accused of ‘fixing’ vote after Louis seen talking to show boss

X Factor producers have been accused of ‘fixing’ the result of Sunday night’s show – which saw Rylan Clark saved over Carolynne Poole – after Louis Walsh was seen talking to them on air.

Louis Walsh was seen talking to a member of staff – thought to be executive producer Richard Holloway – during Carolynne’s sing-off (Picture: ITV)

According to reports the music mogul was seen having a hasty conversation with a member of staff – whom audience members have claimed was the show’s executive producer Richard Holloway – while Carolynne was performing in the sing-off.

And it has led to speculation that Louis – who appeared to agonise over who to save on Sunday night – was told to send the vote to deadlock in a bid to keep Rylan on the show.

The 23-year-old ultimately kept his place in the competition after it was revealed that Carolynne had polled the lowest number of public votes – a result which led Gary Barlow to storm off the set in rage and brand the result ‘a joke’.

It came after Louis, who had the casting vote, spent several minutes apparently unable to make up his mind, at one point saying: ‘I want to save Carolynne,’ before telling Dermot, ‘I’m going to take it to deadlock.’

The mogul appeared unable to make a decision about whether to save Carolynne or take the vote to deadlock (Picture: ITV)

However he later justified his decision, saying: ‘I wanted to see who got the least amount of votes.

‘It was a tough one as Rylan is so entertaining but she sang her heart out there.’

However a furious Gary later said: ‘It’s a joke. Two years running you have lost out to joke acts, Carolynne. It’s ridiculous.’

Carolynne previously missed out on a place in the live shows in 2011 after Louis rejected her at the judges’ houses stage.

Speaking on The Xtra Factor after the result had been announced, she said: ‘He never saves me.’

Carolynne Poole ultimately lost out after receiving the lowest number of public votes (Picture: ITV)

Meanwhile, bookies Ladbrokes have offered odds of 10-1 on Carolynne being reinstated to the show before the end of the series – while Rylan is now the 3-1 favourite to get the boot next weekend.

They are also offering odds of 6-1 for Gary to not speak to the other judges at all next weekend, 8-1 for the Take That singer to swear at Louis Walsh live on air before Christmas, and 25-1 for him to refuse to return to the panel at all unless Carolynne is brought back.

Ella Henderson remains favourite to win the series at 11-10, with Jahmene Douglas second favourite at 4-1.